Common Core State Standards

The Common Core State Standards (CCSS) is intellectually rich standards set in mathematics and ELA, English language arts/ literacy. The state of New York adopted these standards on July 19, 2010 with a full implementation to take place in 2013-2014. These standards aren’t only for New York State schools, but for the entire country. With the exception of Texas, Alaska, Nebraska, Virginia, Indiana, Puerto Rico and Minnesota (Minnesota has only adopted the ELA Standards) who haven’t adopted the standards, everyone else is on board. The Common Core State Standards create necessary steps in education regardless the zip code, race or language.

Although each state designs their own curriculum their standards are set the same across each state. They are also meant to match up with international standards as well. The Common Core State Standards are set across the country to ensure that when our students graduate from school they are prepared for college, career and the rest of their life.

Not everyone agrees to the new standards being set on our children. Many educators and parents are opposed to it. It is stated that the Common Core has never been tested on a real school to prove the amazing outcomes it promises to produce; hence there is nothing to back it up (Heitner). Like the “No Child Left Behind” (NCLB) act passed in 2001 the Common Core is supposed to help our children, but is it really? NCLB changed testing from every few years to every year for grades 3-12. It has not shown improvement in students’ grades and educators feel they’ve stopped teaching important material to prepare students for these rigorous tests (Turley). The Common Core State Standards are added on top of the NCLB test with challenging standards, which teachers say they haven’t received proper training for. Schools were pressured into adopting the standards due to fear of losing federals funds (Heitner).

            Before the tests were changed under the Common Core Standards 47% of New York City students passed the ELA test and 60% passed the Math test. With the new standards only 26% of New York City students the ELA test and 30% passed the Math test. Those are passing grades from third to eighth grade (Hernandez). Truth is the tests are difficult and meant to push the students to high thinking levels. With proper training and materials our students can flourish and be college and career ready.

Work Cited

Heitner, Ethan. “The Trouble with the Common Core”. Rethinking Schools. Rethinking Schools. 2013. Web. April 8, 2014

Hernandez, Javier and Gebeloff, Robert. “Test Scores Sink as New York Adopts Tougher Benchmarks”. The New York Times. The New York Times Company. August 7, 2013. Web. April 8, 2014

Turley, Jonathan. “Common Core Standards= No Child Left Behind on Steroids”. Johnathan Turley. N.p. June 29,2013. Web. April 9, 2014